Water-heater.



No. 785,905. PATENTED MAR. 28, 1905. W. L. MERSFELDER WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 21, 1904.

Nib-messes Patented March 28, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. MERSFELDER, OF NORVVOOD, OHIO.

WATER-HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 785,905, dated March28, 1905.

Application filed December 21, 1904. Serial No. 237,765.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. MERsrEL- DER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Norwood, in the county of Hamilton and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVVater-Heaters and I do declare the following to be a clear, full, andexact description thereof, attention being called to the accompanyingdrawings, with the reference characters marked there- 011, which formalso a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for heating water andwhere such is done while the water is caused to pass through the deviceto which it is admitted cold and which it leaves hot.

The object of this invention is to obtain the desired effect-that is,highest temperature-in the possibly shortest space of time after thewater is admitted to the device.

The invention consists of the particular construction in general and indetail to ob tain the general object and as the same is hereinaftershown and described.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in theclaims, is found a full description of the invention, together with itsoperation, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional sideelevation with parts broken away to show the various features of theconstruction. Fig. 2 is a top view, also with parts broken away. Fig. 3is a sectional detail view taken on line 3 3 of Fi 1.

The device consists, substantially, of a general inclosure, a centralheating-flue, and horizontal partitions arranged above the same, withspaces between them through which the heated air discharged from saidflue is passed and in which spaces it meets and passes through thewater, which comes from opposite direction, said water being alternatelyspread and directed toward the periphery of the device by one partitionand collected again and guided back toward the center by the nextpartition, thus increasing the space and time during which water andheat remain in contact with each other. The arrangement is, further,such that the water in all parts of its passage from the time it entersthe device until it leaves the same is exposed to heat either directlyor by contact with heated surfaces. The water is supplied to the devicethrough a pipe 5, which is generally a continuation or part of thehouse-service pipes of a water-supply system. Passage through this pipeis controlled by a cock 6. The water after being heated while passingthrough the device collects in an annular chamber 7, from where itdischarges through an outlet-nozzle 8. No cock controls this outlet,which is normally open, the passage through it being entirely subject tomanipulation of cock 6, which admits the cold water. Overheating,generation of steam, and raising of dangerous presssure are thuspositively prevented.

The heat is provided by means of a burner 9 in form of an annularchamber supported by opposite lugs 10, one projecting from. the outsideof the burner at each point of its con nection and one from the insideof each one of the legs 11. The top surface of this chamber is inclined,as shown, and has radial ridges 12, in the upper surface of each ofwhich slots 13 are provided,which form gas-outlets. .l 4 is thesupply-inlet to this burner and arranged in the usual manner, so as toadmit simultaneously air and gas, this latter coming from a gas-pipe 15,controlled by a cock 16. As best shown in Fig. 2, it will be noticedthat this inlet is arranged tangential to the center or otherwise thanradial, the object being to prevent reaction by creation of opposingeurrents and to obtain a more complete mikture of gas and air.

The necessary air to be heated by the burner is admitted between theinclined top of this latter and similarly-inclined bottom 17 ofcollecting-chamber 7. The combustion is materially aided by additionalair passing also in between ridges 12. Air enters further through thecentral space surrounded by the burner. Air, heat, and products ofcombustion pass up through a central flue 18, the wall which forms thislatter resting at its lower edge on the upturned edge 19 of thechamber-bottom 17. From here the heat passes into a space 20, under aspreader 21,

and up around the outer edge of the same into a space 22 above it andunder a panshaped collector 23. It passes out of this space upwardlythrough a central opening 24 into a space 25 and under another spreader,26, similar to the one mentioned before. It passes up around the outeredge of this spreader and into a space 27 above the same and under thetop 28 of the device. From here the exit takes place through a centralopening, which may be provided with a pipe 29. The heated air in itspassage, as described, through the device heats thoroughly all parts ofthis latter with which it comes in contact, as well as the spacesthrough which it passes. This includes also the upright branch of thewater-pipe, which passes through the center of the device, enteringthrough the space surrounded by the annular burner. This pipe passesthrough the upper spreader 26, which is centered thereby and may bemounted thereon. It discharges immediately above this spreader and intoa distributing-head in shape of an inverted cup 30, suitably attached tospreader 26 and notched around its lower edge to provideoutlet-openings, whereby the water discharged by pipe 5 is distributedin form of a sheet over the entire surface of the heated spreader. Thisdistribution is aided by ridges 32 whereby the upper surface of thespreader is subdivided into gutters, and by arranging these ridgestangentially, as shown, the length of these gutters is increased and theflow of the water retarded, so that the same remains longer in contactwith the heated surface.

Of the discharge-openings 31 one may be opposite the inner end of eachof these gutters, the length of which latter varies, alternate onesbeing longer, as best shown in Fig. 2, which effect is obtained bynotching the outer edge of the spreaders, as shown. The water thusspread out drops over the outer edge of this spreader and through space25 into a pan-shaped collector 23, whereby it is directed toward thecenter, falling over a vertical margin or curb 33, which surroundsopening 24 and the upper edge of which is notched, as shown at 34. Thewater is thereby broken up in numerous small jets while passing throughthe heated air, which meets them in opening 24, and in this shape dropsalso through the heated space 22 and onto the hot spreader 21. Thislower spreader is similar in construction to spreader 26 described andis likewise provided with ridges forming gutters between which the wateris spread and distributed. In this shape the water drops over the outeredge of this spreader and through the heated space 20 into anothercollector, 35, whereby it is directed again toward the center and towarda central discharge-opening. The upper end of flue 18 projects throughthis dischargeopening, which thus assumes an annular shape, as bestshown in Fig. 3 at 36. Here thewater passes over a marginal curb 37 andis broken up in jets by notches 38. These notches are extended to formgutters in the upper surface of drip-noses 39, whereby the water isdirected against the-outer surface of flue 18, so that while passingdown it does so in contact with this surface, which is intensely hot.The water is held for some time in contact with this surface by anannular chamber formed by a curved wall 4]., supported on the outside offlue 18. It overflows from here through openings 42 and runs down on theoutside of wall 41 and over the outside of the lower part of flue 18,which is also intensely hot, and arrives finally in the annularcollecting-chamber 7, from whence it discharges through. outlet 8. Theheating still continues in this chamber, since bottom 17 of the same isdirectly above the burner. It will now be noted that the water on everypart of its way while passing through the device and from the time itenters the upright part of pipe 5 until it passes out at 8 is exposed tocontact with heated surfaces. In addition it is exposed to directcontact with the heated air in the spaces 27, 25, 22, and 20, wherewater and heat meet and pass through each other in opposite directions.The normally open outlet 8 prevents all. possibility of any accidents bygeneration of steam and high pressure.

If hot water is wanted, the cold-water cock 6 is turned on. If thesupply has been satisfied, the water is turned off by the same cock.Nothing remains in the heater, since outlet 8 is in the lowest partthereof and everything drains out.

Collectors 23 and 35 are each provided with an ann ular depressionaround their deepest part, in which drain-outlets 43 are pro vided. Wall41 does not rest with a water tight fit on flue 18, so that the watermay readily drain out, in addition to which openings or slots may alsobe provided for the same purpose.

Drippings from condensation or sweating are prevented from reaching thefloor on the inside of flue 18 by the particular formation of the jointbetween its lower edge and edge 19, and whereby such drippings areguided into chamber 7. It is prevented on pipe 5 by means of a cup 44,surrounding said pipe, in which said drippings collect and areevaporated by the heat, the cup being for such purpose arranged so as tobe surrounded by the burner to be heated thereby. This procedure may beassisted by providing heatabsorbent material like asbestos or mineralwool in said cup. The cup is supported by arms 45, projecting from theinner side of the burner.

Collectors 23 and 35 are pan or pot shaped structures resting on eachother, the upper one centering on the lower one, while the latter iscentered on flue 18 by means of dripnoses 39. Flue 18 centers oncollectingchamber 7. Spreaders 21 and 26 are centered on water-pipe 5and vertically spaced by means of projections or spacers 46. These partsare held together by bolts 47, passing through the lower collector 35and through top 28, with all parts between. Additional bolts 48 serve tohold this connected struc ture to the lower part-that is, tocollectingchamber 7. The space between these two is closed by asurrounding shell 49, held between top 28 and the upper edge of theouter wall 50 of the collecting-chamber. The lower I ends of bolts 48are seated in external re cesses 51, formed in the outer wall 50. Legs11 are bolted to the casting forming collecting-chamber 7, and burner 9may be supported on this latter or on the legs, as shown.

52 is merely an ornamental shell to hide and cover the inner shell 49,which is subject to discoloration due to the heat. The space betweenthese two shells prevents discoloration of the outer one, which maybesupported by resting on legs 11.

53 is an annular flange on the under side of the collecting-chamber andserves to direct the heat inwardly and upwardly.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1. In a water-heater, thecombination of a series of circular spreaders, means whereby water isdischarged upon them, tangentiallyarranged ridges on these spreaderswhereby their upper surface is subdivided into gutters by which thewater is distributed, the edge of these spreaders being notched out between alternate gutters, a collecting-chamber below these spreaders, anoutlet therefrom and a burner to supply heat to the device.

2. In a water-heater, the combination of a series of spreaders andcollectors alternately directing the water in opposite directions, thewater passing over the outer edge of the spreaders onto the collectorsand through central openings in these collectors, a marginal curbsurrounding each of these openings, notches in the upper edge of thesecurbs whereby the water is discharged in jets, a collecting-chamberbelow these devices, an outlet therefrom and means to supply heat to thedevice.

3. In a water-heater, the combination of a pan-shaped collector with acentral discharge opening, means to supply water to it, a flue below itand extending with its upper end through this opening and of a size toleave a space between it and the margin of this opening, drip-nosesdirecting the water from this collector across this space and againstthe outer surface of this flue, a collecting-chamber which receives thiswater, an outlet therefrom and a burner below the flue.

4. In a water-heater, the combination 01 a central flue, a burner below,a pan-shaped device above it and adapted to discharge water against theouter side of this flue, a curved wall supported on this flue in amanner to form an annular chamber around the same and provided withoutlets for the water, a collecting-chamber below and an outlettherefrom for the heated water.

5. In a water-heater, the combination of an inclosing shell, an annularburner, an annular collecting-chamber above the same, an outlettherefrom, a central flue projecting upwardly from this chamber,alternately-arranged circular spreadcrs and collectors with imperforatebottoms supported above this flue, and vertically spaced between theirouter edges, the water passing down over the outer edge of thespreaders, onto the collectors, a central supply-pipe passing upwardlythrough all these devices and a distributinghead at the upper end of thesame discharging the water laterally over the topmost spreader.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM L. MERSFELDER.

Witnesses:

C. SPENGEL, ARTHUR KLINE.

